World record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont has set a new record for the North Coast 500. He completed the iconic 516-mile circular route in a time of 28 hours 35 minutes.
The 39-year-old Scot was half an hour faster than Robbie Mitchell, also from Scotland, who had held the endurance record since 2021.
This was Mark’s second NC500 record. In 2015, he set the first fastest time for the famous road route in 37 hours, 56 minutes, 44 seconds.
Speaking to Mark, of Edinburgh, who also holds the record for circumnavigating the world in 79 days, he said: “I went into the ride not knowing if I could do it. Robbie had set a very fast time.
“However, based on what I thought might be possible in reasonable conditions, I hoped that half an hour quicker might be achievable. My plan had been to finish in 28 hour and 30 minutes, and in the end I was very close to this.
“But it was even harder to break Robbie’s record than I thought it would be. Even when weather is in your favour, there are no ‘free miles’ on the North Coast 500.”
Mark’s tactics for NC500 record ride
Mark and his GCN+ support team launched the bid to retake the record from Robbie at 8am on Saturday September 24 from Inverness Castle.
He rode an Argon 18 E-119 Tri+ bike across the finish line just ahead of gale-force winds and rain forecast for the afternoon of Sunday 25th. He spent just 16 minutes off the bike during the entire record attempt.
The ride was filmed by GCN+ for an exclusive documentary set to be released in late 2022.
Despite powering up more than 10,000 metres (32,000ft) of unrelenting climbs – more than the height of Mount Everest – in weather conditions including high winds and rain, Mark held an average speed of 29.3kph (18.2mph), including breaks.
Mark, who is married to Nicci and has two daughters aged nine and six, revealed that he had a different tactic to Robbie.
Mark said: “Of course, Robbie and I faced different weather conditions for the NC500 but he went out a lot faster than me in the early stages of the route and then slowed towards the end.
“In contrast, I held a steadier, average pace for the entire route. It was only at Thurso, at around 350 miles into the route, that I started to gain on Robbie’s previous record time. After that I managed to cut his time by half an hour.”
Tough times on the NC500
The toughest section for Mark was around Lochinver. He said: “People always think it is the climb of the Bealach na Ba – the pass from Applecross – that will be the toughest part of this ride but not at all.
“That climb is relatively straightforward and you simply get in a gear and ride uphill.
“The hardest part for me was north of Lochinver. The road profile looks like shark’s teeth; it repeatedly goes up and down with sharp climbs and descents. It was hard to hold an even pace because of all the gear changes.
“This section always falls in the middle of the night, too.”
Mark’s joy at new NC500 record
Although the NC500 ride had been Mark’s plan B challenge for 2022, he is delighted with the result.
The advisor for Argon 18, a Canadian cycle manufacturer, said: “I had been training for the Race Across America this year but there was an outbreak of Covid in the team. I was very disappointed not to be able to do the race.
“I wanted to do something useful with my training and my fitness, so I took part in the GBC 500 [a 500km gravel race] and won it. That was a month before the NC500.
“I thought that I could use the 500km race as a step up to the 500 miles of the NC500. I am very happy with the outcome on what most people would say is the biggest endurance route in Scotland.”
He added: “My best memories from the ride – and the days and weeks prior to the attempt – have involved the incredible support team. Having my wife Nicci along for the ride for the first time was also special.”
New film for 2022
A documentary tracking Mark’s challenge will join a catalogue of GCN+ epic adventure and record-breaking films, including Mark’s world record-awarded Around the World in 80 Days ride and Africa Solo.
Mark Beaumont said: “I hope this film inspires people to explore the north of Scotland – but I wouldn’t recommend trying it non-stop.”
GCN+ is also home to exclusive films following Jenny Graham’s unsupported world record ride, Eastbound, plus remarkable ultra-endurance adventures featuring Lael Wilcox, Josh Ibbett and James Lowsley-Williams.